Railway gate



Nov. 15, 1927.

C. D. SCOTT RAILWAY GATE Filed Aug. 21 192s- .2 Sheets-Sheef 1 INVENTOR: Char/e5 D. 500 I51;- BY

ATTOR'NEY C. D. SCOTT RAILWAY GATE Nqv. 15, 1927.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w7 INVENTOR Char/es D. Scott,

Filed Au.2l 1925 ATTORNEY CIT Ill)

Patented Nov. 15, 1927.

UNITED STATES CHARLES D. SCOTT, OF TOIPEKA, KANSAS.-

RAILWAY GATE.

Application filed August 21, 1926. Serial no. 130,668.

My invention relates to railroad gates, and more particularly to one comprising a barrier of heavy hanging chains, adaptable for movement into and from the line of approach to a railroad track, for the purpose of compelling oncoming traffic to come to a brief stop; the principal object of the invention being to provide a gate of this type adapted for normal location across the roadway, automatically opened by the approach of the vehicle into position in front of the same and returnable to functional position by the vehicle immediately after it has passed through the gate.

In accomplishing this object I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a gate embodyingmy improvements, illustrating the barrier in functional position.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the gate in retracted position.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the automatic operating mechanism.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a roadway and 2 a railroad track intersected by the roadway. Located along the roadway, at a distance of one or two car lengths from the railroad track is an arch 3, preferablycomprising a standard 4: at each side of the roadway, across beam 5 on the top of the standard, overhanging the roadway and having an extension 6 at one side thereof.

Pivoted on the beam 5 adjacent the right hand standard is a track 7 for supporting a gate 8 COIIlPl'lSl'llg a bar 9 and strands 10 of link chains or the like, the gate being suspended from roller bearings 11 similar to ordinary barn door hangers.

Pivotally connected with the outer end of the track 7 is a link 12 which extends downwardly and inwardly to the bottom of w the adjacent standard 1-, and is there connected with a transverse base bar 13, rigidly connected at its inner end with a lever 14, pivoted at its outer end on a pin 15 supported at the side of the roadway on a suitable base 16, the end of the lever being projected slightly beyond the pin to form a short arm 17 p The base bar and lever 14: have a bracing or sti fi'ening connection 1.8 for holding the parts rigid under the operative stresses hereinafter described.

Extending along the side of the roadway is a rail 19, havinga vertical slot 20 adjacent the right hand standard 1 and fixed to the lever 14, and guided in said slot, is an arm 21, underlying the free, forward end of a malleable iron platform 22, pivoted at its rear endto the roadway by hooks 23 loosely" extended through holes 241 in the rear portion of the platform to form hinges therefor.

Fixed to the forward end of the lever 14 is'a depending bar 25 having an outstanding pin 26 at its lower end. Hooked to the pin 26 is one end of an expansion spring 27, the opposite end ofwhich is hooked to an up wardly offset'arm 28 on a lever bar 29, pivoted near its forward end to a pin 30 mounted on a base 31 similar'to the base 16 heretofore mentioned, the lever bar 29 having a short forward arm 32 provided with a lat erally directed arm 33, which extends over the roadway beneath the free, forward end of a platform 34 pivoted at its rear end to the roadway by hooks 35 which extend loosely through holes 36 in the rear portion of the platform 34.

Pivotally mounted 011 a bracket 37 at the left hand end'of the cross beam 5 is a lever arm 38 overlying the cross beam so that it may rest thereon and having at its free end a weight 39, provided with as depending shoe 40, having a lateral offset 41 adapted for engagement with the inner end of the track 7 for the purpose presently mentioned. 1

412 designates a vertical dividing rail mounted on any suitable supporting means and located alongthe center of the roadway for dividing the traflic at opposite sides of the roadway to insure travel of oncoming vehicles over the platforms 22 and 34, the rear end of the rail being inclined as at 43 to avoid abrupt obstruction to the wheels of an oil-coining vehicle and guiding the wheels in the proper roadway section.

The gate is primarily adapted for automatic operation, but may be shifted manually by means of a handle 141 on a chain or other flexible connection 45 run over a pulley 46 on a base 4-7 and connected with the rear end of the lever arm 17. i

I prefer to equip the flexible barricrf: With to the barrier as the tech 7 is shifted to start the barrier on gravity travel down the track, and to provide the part of the roadway beneath the platform 22 with a grating 51 through \vhieh any obstruction may pass to prevent interference with downward movement of the platform under operating coiiditions presently described.

VVhileI have described but a single gate, there is a duplicate of this one at the opposite side of the track, so that traffic approaching the track from either side may be brought to a temporary stop.

Assuming the parts to be constructed and asseinble d as described, operation of the gate is as follows: t

The normal position of the gate is that shown in Fig. 1, with the flexible barriers located across the path of traflic approaching the railroad track. The driver of the vehicle traveling along the roadway Will, as he approaches the gate, be forced to stop a. moment to permit the gate to open. The gate is opened by the right hand front wheel of the vehicle riding on the platfrom at the oil-coming side of the gate to operate the gate to elfect removal of the barriers before the car canpass through. i

As the wheel of the vehicle rides up the platform the ar1n 21 is' lowered, shifting the lever 14 on its pivotal mounting pin l5,lowering the link l2,=drawing down the right hand end of the track 7 andlifting the left hand end thereof. As the track passes the horizontal position, the connection 50 exerts aepull on the hanger bar 9 tending to shift the hanger-bar and barrier toward the right, so that as the track continues to tilt and its left end rises above the horizontal, the barrier automatically shifts to the right by gravity. Asthe left hand end of the track rises above the horizontal, and weight of the bar is shifted to the right hand side of the track, the inner end of the track engages the shoe on the counterweight 39 and lifts the counterweight to balance the weight of the barrier, thereby avoiding shock and strain on the parts as the left end hanger bracket contacts the link 12 to stop the barrier. Downward movement of the lever 1ltensions the spring 27 and rocks the lever 29 to lift the forward platform 34. The vehicle, after moving over the oil-coming platform passes the gate and rides onto the offgoing platform, lowering the latter and lifting the lever 14 to return the track to its initial position, that the barrier may be tween the barrier returned by gravity to its position across the path of oil-coining traffic.

Should a following "vehicle ride onto the on-coming platform before the first one has left the oil-going platform, the spring 527 will yield to permit spread of the levers 14: and 29 without damaging the parts.

v Should a person on horseback or in a horsedrawn vehicle approach the gate, the barrier may be shifted by manual pull on the handle 44, so that the barrier may be removed to permit the animal to pass, the platform 22 being idle during the passage of the vehicle and the platform 34 operating in the ordinary way to return the barrier after the vehicle has passed. Should the barrier be operated by a. person on horseback, then the barrier will remain open until another vehicle has passed, or may be closed by the rider dismounting and placing his weight on the platform 34. e

The purpose of using the hanging chains forbarriers is to prevent careless drivers from wrecking either the gate or vehicle by running into the same,

What]? claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A. gate of the characterdescribed, comprising a support, a t 'aelr pit tally mountml on the support, a barrier having rolling mounting on the track, a roadway platform, a lever operable by the platform. a link connecting the lever with the track to effect shifting movement of the track upon operation of the platform, and connection heand link for effecting initial shifting. movement of the barrier upon operation of the link. i

2. A. gate comprising a standard, a track pivotally mounted on the standard and. extending oppositely therefrom, a. hanger having rolling support on the track, a barrier suspended from the hanger, a. vertically movable roadway platforn'i, a lever having a pin underlying the platform. alinlr eonnccting the lever with one end of the pivoted track for shifting the track upon operation of the lever, asecond platform at the side of the support opposite the first named platform, and a lever connecting the second platform with the first-named lever to return the track to initial position upon operation of the ScCOI1Cl41t1-H11Gd platform. the connection between the lovers being resilient for the purpose set forth.

3. A gate of the character described, mm prising an arch, a track pivoted at one side of the arch and extending oppositely from its pivotal point, a hanger having rolling support on the track, a barrier suspended from said hanger, means for moving the track about its pivot, and a weight mounted on the arch and engageable by the track to coun erbalance the weight of the barrier.

l. In. combination with a roadway, an

till

W arch' having an arm underlying the corresponding platform, a link connecting said lever with the outer end of the track a lever at the other side of the arch, having an arm underlying the corresponding platform,

yieldable connection between said levers, and 15 a counterbalance engageable by the track, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

CHARLES D. SCOTT. 

